Pinsent Masons named UK's most LGBT-friendly legal employer

Pinsent Masons climbed two spots in this year's Stonewall index to rank fifth overall in a league table which named UK intelligence agency M15 as the nation's most LGBT-friendly employer. Clifford Chance, a new entrant to the Index, was recognised as the second most friendly employer for LGBT lawyers, placing ninth overall in Stonewall's index. In total, 12 City law firms were included in Stonewall's Top 100, with Baker & McKenzie, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Norton Rose Fulbright and Herbert Smith Freehills all making the top 25. Additionally, Simmons & Simmons was named a 'Stonewall Star Performer', and will mentor lower-performing organisations over the coming year on how to better support bisexual and transgender employees. 'It's hugely exciting to see so many law firms taking steps to ensure that their employees can be themselves at work,' commented Stonewall senior account manager Kris Phelps. The result shows considerable progress, given that not a single law firm made the cut when Stonewall's Index was launched ten years ago. Sources: Legal Business; Legal Cheek